Dear Frank (cc Sundial List):
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed seeing you and getting a chance to talk with you at the conference, especially our discussions about the possibility of using durable fired porcelain instead of paint for the replacement of old deteriorated painted sundials. As you noticed, I am a big fan and advocate of using baked porcelain on metal or ceramics as the best media for making durable sundials in full color. Porcelain is the most durable of all media for making a sundial in full color. I really want to see more porcelain sundials being made in the future. I have had five of them made: four black and white ones on my sundial cupola (http://www.advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/sundials_files/Stai ned_Glass_Sundial_316.jpg ), and one colored one for an attached vertical wall dial (The Wall Sconce Dial- cover of the last Compendium. http://www.advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/sundials_files/Stain ed_Glass_Sundial_317.jpg ). We need to spread the word to dial designers and makers about the advantages of porcelain. I am sure that there are companies in the UK who make porcelain signage and wall art. In fact, while touring Suffolk after the conference, I came across these two companies. I have not talked with them, but I'm sure that they could make custom porcelain sundial faces from a pattern provided by a dialist : 1. Norton Castings of Norfolk Telephone: +44 (0)1953 860 998 http://www.nortoncastings.co.uk/ This company mostly makes fancy hand painted porcelain address plaques to attach to your home or business. They fire porcelain designs on to aluminum plates. They can be in full color and they will do custom designs and different shapes. These are high quality. 2. The Personalized Plaque Company Tel: 01692 58528 www.broadlandceramics.com <http://www.broadlandceramics.com/> This company also makes fancy porcelain address plaques to attach to your home or business. But these are porcelain that is fired on to ceramic plates instead of metal plates. They are also in full color and can be custom designs and different shapes. Also- high quality product. In the United States, I have found three excellent companies. I'm sure they ship anywhere: 3. KVO Industries Tel: 707-573-6868 (talk to Steve) www.kvoindustries.com <http://www.signsearch.com/cgi-bin/redir.pl?url=http://www.kvoindustries.com &title=dtl_42868> This is the company who made my porcelain sundial faces for me. They use advanced photographic techniques to transfer designs to steel sheets. So they are not hand painted. Their quality and customer service is excellent. They can do full color and different shapes. I highly recommend this company 4. Winsor Fireform www.winsorfireform.com <http://www.winsorfireform.com/> Also, a very good company. Also uses advanced techniques. If you go to www.ceramics.org <http://www.ceramics.org/> you will find more companies. Hope this helps and that you try out porcelain for one of your dials in the future.
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